Republican Governors debate

[TxRVer]

I just heard on the Wells Report that BELO has relented and WILL include Medina in the next Republican Governor Debate.

That's great news.

[joe817]

I just heard on the Wells Report that BELO has relented and WILL include Medina in the next Republican Governor Debate.

That's great news.

Good news indeed!!! Thanks havoc!

[sjfcontrol]

Don't know that they really relented -- her poll numbers went from 4% in Nov to 12% in Jan. So they declared that she meet their criteria.

[boomerang]

I haven't been impressed with Perry but tonight I realized how he can guarantee my vote in the primary.

If he can get the AG to successfully prosecute the APD bullies who strongarmed the gun show promoter.

PC 39.03

[TexasGal]

The idea of eliminating property taxes and going to a sales tax for revenue would give some much needed relief from some of the highest property taxes in the United States. I doubt the sales tax would need to increase as much as you might think. There are plenty of people who would be paying sales tax who do not pay property taxes now. Every year, I have to fight the property taxes on my home. It's aging badly and the tax man seems to think the new mansion across the street somehow means my 35 year old house is worth thousands more. Yeah, right; like a donkey next to a Thoroughbred would be worth more (eyes rolling).

[RPB]

" "donkey next to a Thoroughbred"
good analogy

[joe817]

The idea of eliminating property taxes and going to a sales tax for revenue would give some much needed relief from some of the highest property taxes in the United States. I doubt the sales tax would need to increase as much as you might think. There are plenty of people who would be paying sales tax who do not pay property taxes now. Every year, I have to fight the property taxes on my home. It's aging badly and the tax man seems to think the new mansion across the street somehow means my 35 year old house is worth thousands more. Yeah, right; like a donkey next to a Thoroughbred would be worth more (eyes rolling).

Well put TexasGal. I share your sentiments strongly.

[mr surveyor]

From my experiences in county government (treasurer of the county Emergency Services District), I see a multitude of problems with a move from property tax system to a sales tax system. It's my understanding that our local schools, county roads and bridges, emergency services (in many counties) and other local county services are funded primarily from property taxes within the county. The taxes are also levied on oil, gas and mineral "inventories", and in my county (Rusk), that's a large percentage of our tax base. No doubt, counties without the OGM revenue have a much higher rate on personal property than do we, but under the current system we have LOCAL CONTROL of our system and meet our needs through revenue collected in our own county. If we were to go to a state mandated and collected sales tax system, I would bet that we would get a much larger return from the "mother government" than what is collected in our county. There are a lot of counties much more rural and considerably less populated than Rusk County that still have roads, bridges, and the other needs that could in no way self support from their share of collected sales tax filtered through the centralized state controled tax machine.

Some complain that "renters" are able to evade property tax. Since the landlord does have to pay property tax, then you can bet that he ain't pulling it out of his lunch money. The renters are paying their share through their rent.

I don't like the tax system either, but I have a greater dislike for turning local control over to a centralized state system that would have to play the "Robinhood Scheme" to divvy out the funds as they see fit. I am a firm believer in local control and self reliance.

If you think your property taxes are too high, get involved in local politics, or at least attend the county commissioner's meetings and make your voice heard on how the money is being allocated, and try to put a damper on wasteful spending.

Just my opinions.


surv

[TexasGal]

Good points. I have to agree with you on local control. I wonder if there is a middle ground here somewhere.

[RPB]

Very good points.
Especially the one about renters.

The ONLY people not paying property tax now are the homeless and children who live with parents, whose parents pay it. Some people who are fortunate enough to own interests in more than one property, pay property tax on each.
Also good point about mineral interest owners paying LOCAL property taxes/school taxes etc. on oil in the ground etc. and severance taxes when it's removed from the ground and a production tax for producing it, as well as a State sales tax and later a federal income tax on it.

A pure sales tax system, if property taxes are eliminated, taken to the logical conclusion by examining the 2 extremes, would only help the owners of larger/multiple expensive properties, at the expense of the poorer and/or homeless "have nots" who then would have to make up the difference by paying a larger percentage of their already smaller income and assets in taxes when compared to those "haves" income and assets.

Example Problem: Raise X # tax dollars to pay for Fire Dept. salaries and expenses. ("Fire Protection")
Example:
Who can bear the burden better, the guy who owns the office building on Park Place and Broadway and 3 oil wells and 2 motels, or the homeless lady whose home went in foreclosure and husband left her who lives in a carboard box on the corner of that same intersection.... a dime sales tax on a loaf of bread taxes them both equally monetarily, but unequally compared to their incomes and resources..... while "giving a break" to the wealthy, by eliminating his property taxes which creating a "shortfall" to be "made up" by the "have nots" paying a higher percentage of their income in sales taxes than the guy who just got the big tax relief on all his properties, but benefits the most from the protections

[wgoforth]

Very good points.
Especially the one about renters.

The ONLY people not paying property tax now are the homeless and children who live with parents, whose parents pay it. Some people who are fortunate enough to own interests in more than one property, pay property tax on each.
Also good point about mineral interest owners paying LOCAL property taxes/school taxes etc. on oil in the ground etc. and severance taxes when it's removed from the ground and a production tax for producing it, as well as a State sales tax and later a federal income tax on it.

[/b][/color]

I wouldn't say those are the ONLY ones. I am thinking of those who live in gvt subsidized housing in virtually every town. Keep in mind that they don't have to pay tax on groceries or meds anyway so it's not going to be in the necessities they would be hit with tax. Not wanting to burden the truly poor, but this might tax those who live at tax payers expense, but seem to have enough money to buy more frivolous things.

[marksiwel]

Wait I rent an apartment, does that make me Homeless?

[Keith B]

Wait I rent an apartment, does that make me Homeless?

Depends on where your heart is.

[RPB]

Wait I rent an apartment, does that make me Homeless?

You just said you pay rent, so you pay property taxes by paying the property owner who pays them an amount of rent he amortized and portioned out to tenants to cover that expense, so that covers your portion; nope, you're not homeless.

[marksiwel]

Wait I rent an apartment, does that make me Homeless?

You just said you pay rent, so you pay property taxes by paying the property owner who pays them an amount of rent he amortized and portioned out to tenants to cover that expense, so that covers your portion; nope, you're not homeless.

whew dodged that bullet